Would you tell one of your employees they had a fat arse?

We all know cycling as a sport is surrounded by a vast amount of controversy, which usually involves various allegations concerning riders taking some sort of performance enhancing drugs.  It’s fair to say that the Tour de France is the usual ring-leader here.  However with the Olympics on the horizon and the Tour stating in July, British Cycling has got …

You can’t do that!! Demystifying more common HR myths

In this second article our resident guest blogger, Mara Thorne puts the record straight about three more common HR myths of employment law and management practice about what employers can and cannot do, this time looking at bank holidays, dismissal during sickness absence and misconduct during the notice period. 1.   Everybody is entitled to the 8 bank holidays off work …

What happened to those New Year resolutions?

According to research by BUPA, 66% of people admit to breaking their new year resolutions before January has even drawn to a close.  Call us skeptical, but it’s important to note here that the figure only represents those who were brave enough to admit it.  It would be easy to argue that whether it’s weight loss, a new exercise regime, …

How to avoid costly legal action against your business

As an HR consultant, you often find yourself having in-depth conversations about how business owners can avoid legal action.  Of course, we offer services that go way beyond this.  We can help to boost your profits, create a happier and more productive workforce, and achieve your big strategic goals. Still though, steering clear of expensive and potentially reputation-damaging legal action …

Four strategies for reducing absenteeism

According to research by PwC, the annual cost of sickness absence has rocketed to £29 billion for UK organisations.  Simply put, your staff are calling in sick, and it’s having a severe impact on your bottom line.  If you want to mitigate the impact, it’s time to think about how you can nip the problem in the bud. Now of …

Your guide to minimising conflict in a family business

Being part of a family business can seem like a dream come true for many people.  The opportunity to work alongside your nearest and dearest to pursue your goals and create financial independence is something that can have huge appeal, so it’s no surprise that Harvard Business School has reported that family firms account for two thirds of businesses across …

Five critical actions for managing an employee grievance

If a member of your staff brought up a grievance, would you know how to handle it?  Regardless of how good your people practices may be, and how capable your managers are, you might find yourself in a situation whereby you need to follow a formal grievance procedure. This procedure should be included in your staff handbook, and it should …